Locking means for dividers



Dec. 28, 1948. w. L. JAMESON ET AL 2,457,474

LOCKING MEANS FOR DIVIDERS Filed May 27, 1946 INVENTOR I WILLIAM L. .uwssou FRANK L. ROGERS ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 28, 1948 OFFICE LOCKING MEANS FOR DIVIDERS William L. Jameson and FrankL. Rogers,

' San Jose, Calif.

Application May27, 1946, Serial No. 672,636

The present invention relates to improvements in dividers, particularly of the larger. type, as used in work shops, and its principal object is to provide a pair of dividers which can be used with greater ease and more 'efiiciency than the dividers now in general use.

More particularly it is proposed to provide a pair of dividers made in such a manner thatthe operator can grip one shank in each hand and make necessary adjustments for measuring an object without releasing his grip,

Another object of our invention is to provide a quick-acting, releasable locking means which allows the operator to spread the shanks to any desired opening in one sweep and to instantaneously lock the dividers in the desired angular position of the shanks 7 It is further proposed to arrange the releasable locking means in such a manner that for finer adjustments the operator may grip the shanks individually, release the locking means by; a mere pressure of the thumb, and effect immedia e relocking by release of the thumb pressure, without losing his individual grip on both shanks.

A still further object of our invention is to arrange the releasable feature with respect to one of the shanks so as to be disposed thereon longitudinally and substantially within the vertical plane thereof whereby the locking means is practically streamlined into the shank.

And finally, it is proposed to provide a locking means which automatically locks the two shanks against movement in either direction.

Further objects and advantages of our invention will appear as the specification proceeds, and the new and useful features of our divider will be fully defined in the claims hereto attached.

The preferred form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of our pair of dividers;

Figure 2, a side view of a portion thereof; and

Figure 3, a section taken along line 33 of Figure 2.

While we have shown only the preferred form of our invention, it should be understood that various changes or modifications may be made within the scope of the claims hereto attached, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing in detail, our dividers I, except for the novel features claimed herein, may be made in any suitable form and conventional manner, and comprise a pair of shanks 2 3 Claims. (01.33-153) and 3, preferably rectangular or square in crosssection, the two shanks being pointed at corresponding ends, as at 4, and being pivotally connected at the opposite ends, as shown at 5.

The shank 2 has an arcuate member 6 projecting therefrom in the direction of the other shank, the arc of this member being drawn with the pivot 5 as a center. The arcuate member is preferably round in cross-section, and the shank 3 has a hole 1 adapted to receive the member so as to be freely slidable thereon.

Both shanks are preferably thickened slightly in the path of the arcuate member, as shown at 8, for reinforcing purposes.

The shank 3 has a lever 9 pivoted thereon forwardly of the arcuate member, the lever being mounted longitudinallyon the shank, and being of substantially the same width.

The lever 9 is secured upon the shank by means of two depending lips I 0 which straddle the shank and are pivoted thereto by means of a pin II for rocking motion,

The rearward arm I2 of the lever is comparativelyshort and has a point I3 projecting downwardly through a hole I4 in the shank of gripping engagement with the arcuate member 6, the point being preferably made in the form of a chisel for more effective gripping contact.

The front arm I 5 of the lever extends forwardly over the shank at a slight incline and is normally urged upwardly by a leaf spring IIi overlying the shank longitudinally, the leaf spring being of the same width as the shank.

The front portion of the leaf spring is supported on a rearwardly inclined seat I! and the extreme end of the spring is anchored in a slit I 9 in the shank, the bottom of the slit being alined with the seat I I.

The rear end of the leaf spring is made to bear against the underface of the lever arm I5, the spring thus assuming the curved position shown in the drawing, due to the incline of the seat I1, and tending to urge the front arm I5 upward and the point of the rear arm into locking engagement with the arcuate member 6.

A second leaf spring I8 is preferably arranged underneath the first spring and its front portion may be anchored between the first spring and the seat II,

In use the dividers are normally locked in any position to which they have been adjusted.

If the operator desires to set the dividers for any certain distance, or with respect to two given points, he grips shank 2 with one hand and shank 3 with the other hand, and pressing his thumb forwardly of the arcuate member and having .a s pointed rear end adapted for locking engagement with the arcuate member, the lever having'a front 1 arm projecting over the shank at a slight incline,

and a leaf spring having its front-end anchored" to the shank forwardly of the lever and having its rear end bearing on the under face-0f the-arm for urging the pointed end of the lever into engagement with the shank, the latter shank having" an inclined seat for the forward portion of the leafspring and a 's1ot ia1ined" with-the seatin which the forward end of the'leaf spring is anchored;- I I a 2. In -a pai-rof dividers having-anarcuate member -proje'cti-hg -frdntone of th-sh anksfor sliding 'engagement withthe other shank a lever mounted lengthwise upon the sec'ond -shank for wardly "of the arcuate "member arid-having a pointedre-ar (and adapted for locking engagement with the arcuate member; the leven: having a front arm projecting over the shank at aslight incline; a 'l'eaf -spring having :its "frbntend anchored to the shank forwardly of l the l'ever and having a rear section bearing on the underfaee ofthevarm for urging the pointed end of the lever into engagementwith the shank; and -annirfclined seatsupporting the forward portionof the leaf spring and terminating in a slo't' 'alined withfith'e se'at for anchoring the ;forward portion oi -the lea-f spring, the rear edge of :the seat bin 'g raised with respect: to the "shank 'surface anct close==to the front edge of the lever arm' to 'stiffien the sprin gnpon operationnf the leveri 3IJIIIJ1E, pair of dividers ha'ving: an narcuate 4 I member projecting from one of the shanks for sliding engagement with the other shank, a lever mounted lengthwise upon the second shank forwardly of the arcuate member and having a pointed rear end adapted for locking engagement with the arcuate member, the lever having a front arm projecting over the shank at a slight incline, a leaf spring having its front end anchored to the shankiforwardly Of bhlle'vr and having a rearseetionbearing on th'e underfabeof the arm for urging the pointed end of the lever into engagement with the shank, and an inclined seat supporting the forward portion of the leaf spring and terminating in a slot alined with the seat rfor-anchoring' the forward portion .of the leaf spring, the rear edge of the seat being raised with respecttothexshank surface and close to the front edge of the lever arm to stiffen the spring 'uporroperation of the lever, and the rear end of the spring extending to within close proximity otitheishanln'soz as to bean on-rthe: latter when the lever -i'sl-depressed.for: givinglaosecondwsupport to thezlsprmgz: 1' 1 p I (b. JAM-ESQN .RQGERSF:

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